When Teen Sexuality and Technology Meet

A Land O’ Lakes teen was busted recently on a felony child porn charge for allegedly snapping a picture of minors in a sex act. The incident has shed light on the rising problem concerning pornographic images that are taken or disseminated by minors.

In the Sunshine State, it is illegal to take, transmit or possess images of minors engaged in sex acts. Period. 

“The child pornography statutes in Florida, they don’t separate whose in possession of it,” Pasco County Sheriff’s Office Detective William Lindsey said. “It’s a felony to be in possession no matter what your age is. You can’t be in possession of photos or videos of children engaged ‘sexual conduct’ even if it’s (an image or video of) themselves.”

In the case of the Land O’ Lakes teen, the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office said the Wiregrass Ranch female took “a picture of two juveniles engaged in oral sex.” That picture was later shown to others and blasted out on Twitter by a fellow student. A warrant has been issued for that fellow student, who is 18.

Lindsey said crimes can occur when teen sexuality and technology meet.

“We actually have three detectives assigned to the Cyber Crimes Unit and this is a large portion of our case load,” he said. “It’s oftentimes a boyfriend or girlfriend where they take a picture of themselves or significant other and they break up and that picture winds up on Facebook.”

Lindsey said when offenses occur, authorities are not interested in “making these all criminal cases” and have given leniency when warranted. But teens need to understand the severity of taking, possessing and disseminating images or video of minors engaged in sexual conduct.  

“This is something that the word needs to get out about,” he said. “These kids are committing crimes.”

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